1
as in agitated
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
she's been distracted about her son ever since he left on that polar expedition
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in preoccupied
lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions
the distracted driver rear-ended the pickup truck that had stopped for the red light
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dazed
suffering from mental confusion
she's been chronically depressed and distracted since her husband's death
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1
as in diverted
to draw the attention or mind to something else
we were distracted from our discussion by the noise outside
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2
as in alarmed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
distracted by the looming tax deadline
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distracted
Mie Hoejris Dahl, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Jan. 2025
In the midst of this domestic stress, Fang Di keeps Tian Tian safe and distracted.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2025
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 22 Dec. 2024
The bus once blew right past me because I was distracted by my phone and standing back from the curb.
—Liz Schubauer, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Adjective
Other Venezuelan allies like Russia and Iran are now distracted, grappling with their own problems, Ms. Machado says.
—Mie Hoejris Dahl, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Jan. 2025
In the midst of this domestic stress, Fang Di keeps Tian Tian safe and distracted.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2025
Verb
Basically—your brain gets totally distracted by a pop of red, ignoring wider details on your face like spots or texture.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 22 Dec. 2024
The bus once blew right past me because I was distracted by my phone and standing back from the curb.
—Liz Schubauer, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracted
Adjective
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Zaitsev allegedly became agitated while the agents walked him through a hallway.—
City News Service,
Orange County Register,
26 Feb. 2025
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Although Allen is best known for promulgating a certain set of character types in his classic films, his own bookish worrywart or Diane Keaton’s moodily anxious beauty, he also must be credited for seeing the comic possibilities of the altogether less agitated and more grounded Roberts.—
Peter Tonguette,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Indeed, students can be generally secure in romantic relationships yet become preoccupied while dating a certain partner.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
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Ryan isn’t too keen on Bex asking Shane for details about the prison, and a few others remain preoccupied with covering their tracks and keeping other skeletons tucked away in their respective closets.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Three eyewitnesses spoke of coming upon a dazed Pino clinging to the hull of his overturned boat, Lucy’s body trapped underneath.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
2 Jan. 2025
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After this, the responsibilities of playing Bush fell to Hammond and later Will Forte, who fit the character more into his own image of a silly little boy in a man’s body rather than re-enact Ferrell’s dazed and confused moron shtick.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Bauman offered an amendment that would have diverted the funding to street reconstruction and paving projects, and a city fund that helps first-time homebuyers with down payments.—
Tom Daykin,
Journal Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
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But any amount of traffic diverted should help the gridlock, the councilman said.—
Erin Couch,
The Enquirer,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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After the Home Depot truck took off down the street, with Tatiana Pino in pursuit, the footage shows that the mail carrier did a U-turn and started to follow Pino’s vehicle, stopping briefly after Pino’s distraught daughter rushed outside and flagged him down.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2025
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As for future plans, Stinchcombe’s so far unrealized ambition is to sell the debit card as a white label product to banks–a solution the banks could offer to families distraught about grandma’s out of control charitable charges or garden gnome purchases.—
Lindsey Choo,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Alani, a French journalist, paints a haunting picture of modern Iraq through the eyes of its bewildered children.—
Lisa Anderson,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
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The snap captures Bailey a bewildered expression on her face.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The mineral can stay airborne for days once disturbed, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Jan. 2025
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The relationship quickly unearthed something that disturbed him.—
Joshua Kaplan,
ProPublica,
4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In my neighborhood, people are worried about rising costs of everything.—
Robin Holmes,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2025
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Safety concerns Residents were also worried about the safety of the gravel roads for horses.—
Emma Hall,
Sacramento Bee,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracted. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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